A multi-panel display showing all 5 of theÂ GOES-15 Imager channels is shown above. For comparison purposes, a similar multi-panel displayÂ of all five of the GOES-13 Imager channels is shown below.

GOES-13 multi-panel display of the Imager visible and IR channels

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GOES-13 and GOES-15 10.7 Âµm longwave IR images

Some close-up comparisons of GOES-13 and GOES-15 IR images show similar results from the two satellites. The image above uses GOES-13 and GOES-15 10.7 Âµm longwave IR channel data to display a cluster of strong convection over the far eastern Gulf of Mexico, between Florida and Cuba — the coldest 10.7 Âµm IR brightness temperatures seen were 196.2 K (-77.0Âº C) on GOES-13, vs 194.9 K (-78.3Âº C) on GOES-15.

The image below is a comparison of the 13.3 Âµm CO2 channels. Note that the Field of View (FOV) of the 13.3 Âµm CO2 channel has improved from 8 km on GOES-13 to 4 km on GOES-15 — as a result, the edges of cloud features now appear much smoother on the GOES-15 13.3 Âµm image.

GOES-13 and GOES-15 13.3 Âµm CO2 channel images

Looking farther to the west, the image below shows the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current, using the 3.9 Âµm shortwave IR channel data from GOES-13 and GOES-15. AWIPS images of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) products from MODIS and AVHRR indicated that the SST values were as warm as 80Âº F within the Loop Current, surrounded by waters with SST values in the 70-75Âº F range.

GOES-13 and GOES-15 3.9 Âµm shortwave IR images

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GOES-13 and GOES-15 6.5 Âµm water vapor images

A comparison of the GOES-13 and GOES-15 6.5 Âµm water vapor channels (above) showed a pocket of very dry air (yellow to orange color enhancement) to the north of the aforementioned strong convection located between Florida and Cuba. This dry air was a signature of a well-definedÂ “jet stream break”, as verified by GFS model 250 hPa wind speed isotachs (below).